I think there is more to why Mr. Cheney is unpopular.

He is dull. Mr. Cheney is an even more boring speaker than John Kerry - and that is quite an accomplishment. His monotonic delivery is, I understand, eating into the profits of pharmaceutical companies that make sedatives.

He is abrasive. His response to every criticism of the American Administration (no matter how minute) is delivered in the same aggressive (almost angry) tone. It is almost as though he has a massive chip on his shoulder.

He is perceived as the puppet-master. Though the evidence suggests that Bush is the final decision-maker, his apparent reliance on Cheney is seen by many as an indication that the VP is, in fact, running the show. This leads many to consider nightmare scenarios: What if Mr. Cheney ascends to the Presidency and dies of a heart attack? Or worse: What if Mr. Cheney dies of a heart attack while VP, forcing Mr. Bush to make a decision on his own?

But most concerning to me is the mounting evidence that Mr. Cheney is, in fact, a vampire - the internet is full of rumours about it. If you doubt the possibility ask yourself this question: When is the last time I saw Dick Cheney in daylight? I rest my case.